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FROM DAY TO DAY

Mali the Malian waythe Great Cattle Crossing - Yaaral

day 1 - Friday

In the early morning you’ll board our pinasse in Ségou for a beautiful journey over the Niger river. Today takes you from Ségou in the direction of Diafarabé, along lovely villages, through the lock near Markala, along Sansanding with its riverside mosque and Macina. You’ll be gathering a multitude of impressions, while enjoying the quiet pace of travelling by boat on the river. Bird lovers have the chance to do some birding as well. Camp will be made on the river shore or an isle. The crew prepares the meals and you’re offered an evening around the campfire under the star-spangled sky.

day 2 - Saturday

We’ll make it another early departure to cover the remaining distance to Diafarabé, where the Great Cattle Crossing will take place today. It usually starts once all dignitaries have arrived, somewhere in between 9am and noon. The village is visited in the morning before the start of the activities. Hunters will fire their guns as a token of the start of the festivities. On the other riverbank the herders will guide the first herds of cattle into the river, the festivities have started. Girls and women are beautifully dressed, their hairs decorated with amber beads and gold ornaments. Today they’ll give it their best to impress the young herders, like the herders will give it their all to impress the nubile girls. Mingle with the locals, taste their snacks and juices, enjoy the festivities - both on shore and on the river from the pinasse - and be part of one of Mali’s most amazing events. In the afternoon when most of the cattle has crossed and festivities on the river shore are slowing down, you get back on board to start the journey back towards Ségou. A short stop is made at Macina to visit its weekly market on the river quay. Around sunset, after a few hours of cruising upstream, camp is made on the river shore or an isle.

day 3 - Sunday

Another relaxing day on the river takes you back to Ségou. When time allows some villages or a Bozo settlement will be visited. Arrival in Ségou is foreseen for the late afternoon.

in short

price

dates

25-27 November 2016

included

Transport by pinasse, all meals, use of tents and matrasses, English and French spoken travel guide, all excursions and transport as mentioned in the itinerary and tourist taxes.Life vests available for babies, children and adults.